Can I opt-out of opinion spam? Because that would be nice.

Can I opt-out of opinion spam? Because that would be nice.

Last week, my parents were in town and they were staying at my place. I was commenting to them that my wife and her mother get along okay, but only because they are not living under the same roof. Her mother has a habit of giving her plenty of unsolicited advice.

My mother then said “I would never do that.”

I then glared at her, as if to say “What? Are you kidding?” Because the fact is, mothers give their kids unsolicited advice all the time. For example, during the rest of the week:

I was told that I needn’t go out and purchase a welcome mat for the back glass door of my condo, I could just put an old towel down and use those to wipe my feet (I didn’t bother to point out that a towel would have to remain inside and would be both slippery on the ground as well as unsightly).

I was told that I could keep left over food in the fridge a couple of days longer than I normally do.

I was told that if I buy a certain brand of X, then it would lead to Y.

I was told how I could hang my towels more efficiently,

And more!

After hearing all of this, I thought to myself “Man, someone really needs to invent a filter where they can filter out everyone else’s unsolicited advice delivered verbally.” The best technique I have today is to say nothing and not invite anymore of it, and then when my house guests are gone, do whatever I think is best.